HALF MARATHON SUCCESS On Wednesday children from years 3 to 6 travelled to

Cullompton Community College to take part in the first

mile of the half marathon challenge. One by one, age

groups took their turn to run their mile. The children all

did amazingly well coming first in all of the races. A

special mention to Jasper Kolowski who broke the all-

time record, but was later beaten by Ryan Hill by just

one second! Overall everyone did really well and

thoroughly enjoyed themselves, just another 12 more

miles to run!

CIRCUS TIME IN KS1 Cook and Raleigh class had the opportunity to take part

in a circus skill workshop. They began the workshop by

practising how to balance a peacock feather on one

finger. Competitions were held to see who was the best

at balancing – would it be boys or girls? The next section

of the workshop involved an obstacle course containing

balancing beams, forward rolls through hoops and

jumping over boxes. Great fun was had by all, the

children are now preparing for their own circus

entertainment.

FOUNDATION CLASS VISIT KNIGHTSHAYES COURT As part of their topic work this term, the children in

Foundation visited Knightshayes Court. They had a tour

of the house looking at all the different rooms and there

were lots of things to see and an opportunity to ask

questions. Because the children are going to look at the

work of William Burgess, they had to spot some of his

wallpaper designs around the house. Later on this term

they will have a go at printing designs in the style of his

work. The children were fascinated to see the wooden

toilet box and the boudoir room!

The Duchy School Newsletter No 8

19th January 2015

Happy New Year to everyone! We hope you all had a lovely Christmas break. The children are already busy learning about their

new topics, so if you would like to find out more, please do look at the website under the 'Curriculum' tab. As we go through the

term, the teachers will put news about their learning on the class pages - do keep an eye out for up-dates. Mrs BaillieMrs BaillieMrs BaillieMrs Baillie

WELCOME TO MRS EMERY There is a new face in the school

office – Mrs Emery, who is with us

part-time on Mondays, Thursdays

and Friday afternoon. She has joined

us after spending many years

working for Flybe. She is now trying

to get to grips with all the new faces

she is seeing in school, so please do

introduce yourself if you see her in

the office.

HEADLICE Once again we are having problems in school with

headlice. Can parents please be vigilant when checking

their children’s hair for headlice and take the

appropriate action?

AUTHOR OF 'THE AMAZING BRAIN OF O C

LONGBOTHAM' IS COMING TO SCHOOL! We are really lucky to be able to have the author,

Barbara Spencer in school this week. On Thursday she

will be spending time throughout the school and during

this time she will be talking to them about her books and

what it is like to be an author. To find out more about

Barbara, you can go to:

http://www.barbaraspencer.co.uk/aboutauth.html.

There will be signed copies of her book for sale on the

day. There will be more information on a separate leaflet

tomorrow. If you would like to purchase a book, children

may bring cash or a cheque made out to ‘Barbara

Spencer’ in a sealed envelope with their name on it and

the name of the book.

NUT ALLERGIES

Can we please remind parents, that children should not

bring nuts or any products containing nuts into school?

We have a child with a severe nut allergy and so it is very

important, that we are all extra vigilant when checking

items brought in for tuck or in packed lunch boxes.

Thank you for your continued co-operation in our desire

to keep all of our children safe.

SCHOOL CLOSURE

If we should ever be in the position of having to close

the school e.g. due to snow, then Mrs Stanbury will send

out a text to parents when a decision has been taken.

She will also put a note on the school website on the

homepage.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES NON-PUPIL DAY

A reminder to parents that Friday, 13th

February is a

non-pupil day.

Comic relief day is 13th

March – we will be selling red

noses nearer the time.

Spring term parents evenings – late parents evening

will be 6 – 8.00 pm Thursday 19th

March

Early parents evening will be 4 – 6.00 pm Monday 23rd

March. Booking slips will be sent out nearer the time or

you can email an appointment request.

The Duchy Mile is planned to take place on Friday 20th

March.

STARS OF THE WEEK Our stars for last week are:

Foundation: Liam Milford & Imogen Charlton-

Anne

Cook: Joshua Meffe & Sophie Snow

Raleigh: Faye Rosse & Ewan Phillips

Drake: Emily Crawford & Corey Browning

Acland: Kalum Meecham & Alfie Luxton-Keough

Brunel: Charlie Bevan & Fran Reader

MATHEMATICIANS OF THE WEEK

Foundation: Gabrielle Coles & Abbie Phillips Cook: Amy Ramsden & Harley Endicott

Raleigh: Freya Kotting & Destiny Kimberley

Drake: Oliver Williams & Daniel Thorpe

Acland: Jasper Kolowski & Harry Bridge

Brunel: Callum Abbott, Oliver Marklew & Tilly Kolowska

TERM DATES for 2014/15

SPRING Term 2015 will end on 27th

March.

Half Term is 16th

– 20th

February

Non-Pupil Day Friday 13th

February

SUMMER Term will start 13th

April and end on 23rd

July

Half Term 25th

– 29th

May

TERM DATES for 2015/16 (Provisional)

AUTUMN Term will start 3rd

September and end on 18th

December.

Half Term is 26th

– 30th

October

Non-Pupil Day

Monday 2nd

November

SPRING Term will start on 5th

January and end on 24th

March.

Half Term is 15th

– 19th

February

Non-Pupil Day Friday12th

February

SUMMER Term will start on 11th

April and end on 20th

July.

Half Term is 30th

May – 3rd

June.